The 14 Best Tweens Podcasts (2026)

From the Brains On Universe comes Smash Boom Best, a debate show where two things face off and listeners vote on the winner at smashboom.org. Hosted by Molly Bloom, each 32-to-38-minute episode pits unexpected opponents against each other — Pikachu vs. Mario, refrigerators vs. toilets, volcanoes vs. tornadoes — and brings in guest debaters including comedians, writers, and journalists to make their cases. The format teaches kids how to build logical arguments and identify fallacies through a dedicated State of Debate segment, all while keeping things genuinely funny and engaging. With 210 episodes and a 4.6-star rating from over 14,100 reviews, the show has one of the highest listener satisfaction scores in the kids' podcast space. The debates follow a structured format with opening statements, rebuttals, and a final round, giving kids a model for constructive disagreement that they can actually apply in their own lives. Guest debaters bring real passion to their arguments, and the topics are chosen to spark exactly the kind of heated-but-friendly discussions that families end up continuing at the dinner table. Part of what makes the show work so well is that it respects kids' ability to think critically and form their own opinions. The audience voting system means listeners are active participants rather than passive consumers. It is educational in the best sense — kids learn reasoning skills without ever feeling like they are in a classroom.

Brains On! does something clever that most kids' science shows miss entirely: it puts an actual kid in the co-host chair every single episode. Molly Bloom leads the show alongside rotating child co-hosts, and the result is a dynamic where questions feel genuine rather than staged. Each 25-to-31-minute episode tackles a single question — how do apples grow, what's inside a jellyfish, how much does the sky weigh — and brings in real scientists to help find answers. The Mystery Sounds segment has become a fan favorite, where listeners try to identify strange audio clips before the reveal. There are also original songs baked into episodes, which sounds corny but actually helps cement concepts in a way kids remember. With nearly 400 episodes and a 4.5-star rating from over 13,000 reviews, the show has earned its reputation as one of the best educational podcasts for families. The production team includes Bridget Bodnar and Jed Kim alongside Molly, and they strike a balance between being genuinely informative and never talking down to their audience. Kids submit questions that drive the show, so topics stay fresh and unpredictable. It's the kind of podcast where a six-year-old and a ten-year-old can both get something out of the same episode, which is harder to pull off than it sounds.

Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz — yes, the same Guy Raz behind How I Built This — host this wildly popular science show that feels less like a lecture and more like a cartoon for your ears. They take real scientific discoveries and wrap them in goofy characters, immersive sound effects, and enough silliness to keep kids giggling through actual learning. Episodes run 12 to 27 minutes and come out weekly, with spin-off segments like Two Whats?! And A Wow! (a science game show) and WeWow (a behind-the-scenes talk show featuring listener voicemails). With over 1,100 episodes and a 4.6-star rating from 30,000+ reviews, this is the biggest kids' science podcast out there for good reason. The show covers everything from microbes to outer space, and Mindy and Guy have a chemistry that makes even the weirdest topics feel approachable. What sets it apart from other educational podcasts is the sheer commitment to making science feel like an adventure rather than homework. The interactive elements help too — kids can call in, leave voicemails, and become part of the World Organization of Wowzers community. Parents will appreciate that the humor lands for grown-ups as well, making this a genuinely enjoyable family listen rather than something you just tolerate in the background.

Smologies takes the wildly popular Ologies podcast — where host Alie Ward interviews scientists about their specialties — and edits each episode down into a shorter, classroom-safe version with zero swearing and all of the fascinating science intact. The tagline says it all: "All of the science, with none of the swearing." Each episode runs about 25-30 minutes and features a real expert (an "ologist") talking about their field, from tardigrade biology to solar science to the study of carnivorous plants.

Alie Ward has a gift for asking the kinds of questions that make experts light up. She's genuinely curious and a little goofy, which puts her guests at ease and makes complicated topics feel approachable. The conversations cover everything from penguins and lemurs to meteorology, hair biology, gratitude psychology, and indigenous cuisine. There are over 90 episodes already, and the show updates weekly.

What makes Smologies particularly great for tweens is that it exposes them to actual career paths they might never have heard of. Where else is a 10-year-old going to learn that someone studies volcanoes for a living, or that there's a whole field devoted to slime molds? The 4.8-star rating from over 400 reviews on Apple Podcasts reflects how much families love it. Teachers use it in classrooms. Parents play it on car rides. And tweens come away from each episode knowing something genuinely cool that they can show off at the dinner table. It respects kids' intelligence while keeping the tone warm and fun — never stuffy, never boring.

Unspookable is the podcast for every tween who loves creepy stuff but whose parents want them to learn something while getting spooked. Hosted by Elise Parisian, each episode takes a famous scary story, myth, or urban legend — the Wendigo, Bloody Mary, Ouija boards, the Lost Colony of Roanoke — and traces it back to its real origins. The show blends history, brain science, and cultural context to explain why these stories scare us and where they actually came from.

Episodes run anywhere from 8 to 26 minutes, released biweekly, and there are over 100 of them in the archive. The format is consistent: pick something spooky, tell the story, then peel back the layers to reveal the history and psychology underneath. It covers everything from cryptids like the Yeti to pop culture phenomena like Five Nights at Freddy's and Godzilla. There are also episodes on phobias like trypophobia and the science of why slime creeps people out.

The show has earned a 4.6-star rating from over 2,000 reviews and has been featured by NPR, Vox, Vulture, and The New York Times. Common Sense Media selected it as a recommended podcast, and Apple Podcasts listed it as an Essential. It's age-appropriate for 8 and up — spooky enough to feel thrilling but never actually terrifying. For tweens going through that phase where they want to watch horror movies but probably shouldn't, Unspookable is the perfect middle ground. It scratches the itch for creepy content while teaching real history and critical thinking.

The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel is an audio drama that hits like a middle-grade novel you can't put down — except you listen to it instead of reading it. The story follows eleven-year-old Mars Patel and his friends Caddie, JP, and Toothpick as they investigate why kids at their school keep vanishing. The trail leads them to a mysterious tech billionaire named Oliver Pruitt, and things get progressively weirder from there, involving space travel, simulations, and some genuinely surprising twists.

Produced by GZM Shows (formerly Gen-Z Media), the series spans three seasons and 32 episodes, each running 17 to 42 minutes. It won a Peabody Award, which puts it in rare company for a kids' podcast. The voice acting features actual kids, which makes the characters feel real and relatable rather than like adults pretending to be young. The production quality is film-level — full sound design, original music, and pacing that keeps you hooked episode to episode.

With 4.6 stars from over 6,300 ratings, it's one of the most beloved serialized kids' podcasts ever made. The story works on multiple levels: younger tweens enjoy the mystery and adventure, while older ones pick up on the themes about technology, trust, and growing up. It's a complete, finished story with a real ending, so there's no frustration of waiting for new episodes. Think Stranger Things meets The 39 Clues, but in audio form. Perfect for road trips, bedtime listening, or any tween who says they don't like podcasts — this one tends to change their mind.

The Past and The Curious is proof that history doesn't have to be dry textbook material. Host Mick Sullivan picks out the most interesting, weird, and surprising stories from the past and presents them with genuine enthusiasm and a storyteller's instinct for pacing. One episode you're learning about spies, the next about the invention of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and then suddenly you're hearing about art preservation during World War II. The range is impressive.

Each episode runs 22 to 36 minutes and features professional music scores and original songs that reinforce the themes — a nice touch that makes it feel more like an experience than a lecture. There are 139 episodes in the archive, updating bimonthly, so there's plenty to explore. The show is a proud member of Kids Listen, an organization dedicated to quality audio content for young audiences, and that commitment to quality is obvious in every episode.

The ratings back it up: 4.7 stars from 2,550 reviews on Apple Podcasts, making it one of the highest-rated kids' history shows out there. Sullivan has a talent for finding the human angle in historical events, which is exactly what keeps tweens engaged. He doesn't just tell you what happened — he makes you understand why it mattered and why it's still interesting hundreds of years later. Parents and teachers love it too, which is always a good sign. For any tween who thinks history is boring, this podcast is the antidote.

Book Club for Kids does exactly what its name promises, but better than you'd expect. Hosted by Kitty Felde, an award-winning public radio journalist, the show brings together actual young readers to discuss books in a real book club format. Each episode features kids talking about what they loved (and didn't love) about a recent title, plus a celebrity reader performing a selection from the book and an interview with the author.

The show covers a huge range of children's and young adult literature — from Rick Riordan adventures to quieter literary fiction — and the kid panelists are refreshingly honest in their opinions. They don't just say everything is great. They push back, disagree with each other, and sometimes prefer different books entirely. It's genuine discussion, not scripted praise. Episodes run 19 to 24 minutes and release biweekly, with 251 episodes in the archive.

Felde won the California Library Association Technology Award and a DC Mayor's Award for Excellence in the Humanities for this show, and The Times of London named it one of the top 10 podcasts for kids. The 4.2-star rating from 348 reviews is solid, and the show has a loyal following among families, educators, and librarians. For tweens who already love reading, it's a way to discover new books and hear other kids' perspectives. For reluctant readers, hearing peers get excited about a story can be the spark that gets them to pick it up themselves. Either way, it's a thoughtful, well-produced show that takes young readers seriously.

Short & Curly is a philosophy and ethics podcast for kids, and before you think that sounds boring — it absolutely isn't. Produced by Australia's ABC, hosts Molly Daniels, Carl Smith, and philosopher Eleanor Gordon-Smith tackle big moral questions through storytelling, humor, and genuine debate. Episodes ask things like: Is it wrong to eat meat? Should driverless cars be allowed? Is graffiti art? Can cereal be soup? (That last one comes up a lot, apparently.)

The show comes in two formats: full episodes running 20-24 minutes and bite-sized "BITES" episodes of 3-4 minutes for quick philosophical snacks. With 223 episodes in the archive, there's a massive range of topics to explore. The approach is consistent: present a scenario, break down the ethical arguments on each side, and let listeners form their own conclusions. The hosts never tell kids what to think — they teach them how to think, which is a crucial distinction.

It carries a 4.6-star rating from over 1,700 reviews and has built a global following among families and educators. The show targets ages 8-12 and hits that sweet spot perfectly. The Australian accents and cultural references add charm without limiting accessibility. For tweens starting to form their own opinions about fairness, truth, and how the world should work, Short & Curly gives them a framework to think through those ideas. It's the rare podcast that makes philosophy feel like a conversation rather than a homework assignment.

Tai Asks Why features 15-year-old Tai Poole interviewing NASA scientists, university professors, stand-up comedians, and researchers about the biggest questions in science and life. Produced by CBC and winner of a Webby Award, the show stands out because Tai isn't playing at being a host — he's genuinely curious, occasionally nervous, and always willing to admit when something confuses him. That honesty makes the conversations feel real in a way that adult-hosted shows sometimes miss.

Across four seasons and 47 episodes, Tai has tackled everything from extraterrestrial life and climate change to the science of laughter and why we crave certain foods. Episodes run 25-35 minutes and follow an interview format where Tai brings his own research and questions to each expert. Sometimes his brother Kien joins in. The show works because Tai asks the kinds of questions that tweens actually want answered — not the safe, predictable ones, but the messy, complicated ones about anxiety, memory, and what math is even for.

The 4.2-star rating from over 1,200 reviews reflects a dedicated audience that appreciates hearing a young person lead serious conversations. For tweens, there's something powerful about hearing someone close to their own age hold their own with world-class experts. It makes science and big ideas feel accessible rather than intimidating. The show updates seasonally rather than weekly, so the episode count is modest, but every single episode is substantial and worth the listen.

10 for Teens + Tweens keeps things simple in the best way: each episode is roughly 10 minutes long and focuses on one topic that matters to young people right now. Host Stephanie Valdez, founder of Empowerful Girls and a certified Girl Power Instructor trained in Social and Emotional Learning, covers self-love, friendship drama, anxiety, social media pressure, goal-setting, and family communication. The format is direct and practical — no filler, no rambling.

With 145 episodes releasing biweekly, the show has built a solid library covering just about every emotional challenge a tween might face. Valdez also holds training in Youth Mental Health First Aid, which means the advice isn't just well-intentioned — it's informed by actual expertise. She talks to listeners like they're capable young people navigating real stuff, not like they need to be protected from their own feelings.

The 4.7-star rating from 361 reviews on Apple Podcasts tells you what the audience thinks, and the listener reviews are genuinely moving — young people writing in to say the show helped them through a tough week or gave them words for feelings they couldn't name. The 10-minute format is perfect for the tween attention span and fits neatly into a morning routine, bus ride, or wind-down before bed. Transcripts are available on EmpowerfulGirls.com for anyone who prefers reading. For tweens dealing with the emotional turbulence of ages 10-13, this podcast is like having a smart, caring older sister in your earbuds.

The Confident Tween and Teen Podcast with Laura Orlando zeroes in on one specific thing: building genuine confidence during the years when self-doubt hits hardest. Each episode is 10 minutes or less, packed with practical tools and mindset shifts that tweens and teens can actually use right away. No vague motivational fluff here — Orlando gives specific strategies for handling negative self-talk, dealing with social media comparison, managing overthinking, and building courage step by step.

With 142 episodes updating weekly, there's a deep archive covering insecurity, goal-setting, self-acceptance, anxiety, and resilience. Orlando's approach is refreshingly realistic. She doesn't promise that confidence means never feeling scared or uncertain. Instead, she frames it as a skill you build through small, consistent actions — which is honestly a more useful message than most adults get from self-help content.

The show carries a remarkable 4.9-star rating from 58 reviews, with listeners consistently praising how authentic and applicable the episodes feel. The short format makes it perfect for listening before school or during a quick walk. Parents report listening alongside their tweens, and several reviews mention that adult women find the content valuable too, which says something about the quality of the advice. For any tween who struggles with comparing themselves to others, feels like they're not enough, or just needs a regular reminder that building confidence is a process rather than a destination, this podcast delivers exactly what it promises — practical help in small doses.

Stuff You Should Know is one of the most popular podcasts on the planet, and it works surprisingly well for curious tweens who are ready for something a little more grown-up. Hosts Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant pick a topic — anything from champagne to chaos theory to how safety coffins worked in the 1800s — and spend 40-50 minutes breaking it down in a conversational, easygoing style. They also do "Short Stuff" episodes of about 12-14 minutes for quicker hits.

With over 2,000 episodes and 76,000+ ratings averaging 4.5 stars, this is one of the most proven podcasts in existence. The tone is casual and funny — Josh and Chuck clearly enjoy each other's company, and their banter makes even obscure topics feel like a conversation between friends. They do their homework, cite their sources, and occasionally go on tangents that somehow make the episode better.

Now, it's worth noting that this isn't specifically a kids' show. It's rated Clean and the content is appropriate, but some topics (like LSD or the Stonewall Uprising) touch on mature themes. That said, many recommendation lists for tweens include it because it treats complex subjects with nuance and respect. For tweens aged 11-13 who are outgrowing strictly kids' content and want to feel like they're learning alongside adults rather than being talked down to, SYSK is an ideal bridge. The sheer variety means there's always something interesting in the feed, and the conversational format makes it easy listening for car rides, chores, or just killing time.

Eleanor Amplified is an old-school radio drama made for modern kids, and it's exactly as fun as that sounds. Produced by WHYY (the public media station in Philadelphia), the show follows intrepid reporter Eleanor Amplified as she chases stories, outwits villains, and gets into the kind of scrapes that would make Indiana Jones nervous. The writing is sharp, witty, and packed with the kind of clever humor that lands for tweens while also making parents chuckle in the background.

The series ran for four seasons with 54 episodes, each clocking in at 11-19 minutes. The voice cast — Christa D'Agostino, Jim Barton, and Scott Johnston among others — brings real theatrical energy to the performances. Episodes bounce between adventure, mystery, and comedy, with storylines involving rockets, laser beams, international intrigue, and at least one goat-related incident. The production values punch well above what you'd expect from a kids' podcast, with full sound design and pacing that keeps the story moving.

The show wrapped up in 2021, but it has aged well — listener reviews from as recently as 2025 reflect genuine nostalgia and appreciation. It holds a 4.6-star rating from over 2,200 reviews. The completed-series format is actually a strength: tweens can binge the whole thing without waiting for new episodes. For kids who love adventure stories and appreciate clever writing, Eleanor Amplified delivers a complete, satisfying experience. It's the kind of show that makes you wish there were more seasons, which is probably the highest compliment you can give a piece of fiction.